← Back to collection
Region: General | Usage example: The fine was just a slap on the wrist.

Slap on the wrist

Meaning

A mild punishment.

Usage

Used when consequences are too lenient.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Literal light strike as a rebuke.

Used in moralist literature around the 1800s.